Knicks vs. Spurs: 3 keys for New York in Game 4 of NBA Finals

Well, it was a fun 13-game win streak.

The Knicks hadn’t lost a game in about a month and a half. But after a 115-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, New York has a lot to think about.

Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks with 32 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Spurs took control of the first and third quarters, behind strong play from Victor Wembanyama (32 points) and Stephon Castle (23 points). The Knicks still have a 2-1 series lead, but the Spurs might’ve created some momentum.

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With a quick turnaround for Game 4 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, here are three thoughts to marinate on for the next two days.

Alien in the paint

To make this a series, San Antonio needed its superstar Wembanyama to step up. The 7-foot-4 big man was a dominating force from the jump, recording 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

Wembanyama got behind New York’s defenders in the pick-and-roll and caught several lobs during the contest. He was aggressive and decisive, scoring 14 points in the restricted area. Wembanyama set the tone for San Antonio in this game and it helped drive the Spurs to a win.

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New York kept Wembanyama’s forays to the paint in check through the first two games. In San Antonio, the Knicks’ physicality from help defenders prevented him from those easy looks. Monday night was a different story.

It’s not an easy task, but for the Knicks to get back in the winning column, they can’t allow as many easy opportunities for Wembanyama.

Stuck in mud

San Antonio’s defense was aggressive all night in Game 3. That physical, switch-heavy defense has worn on the Knicks, causing the offense to become stagnant at times. New York had 18 assists, but also finished the game with 13 turnovers, which led to 21 Spurs points.

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The assist number was New York’s lowest of this year’s playoff run. The last time the Knicks tallied under 20 assists was a 109-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of the first round. That was New York’s most recent loss before Monday.

The lack of flow and ball movement the Knicks played with affected…

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Publish date : 2026-06-09 13:11:00

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